Weekly Update: Quakes to host Philadelphia on Sunday

The Earthquakes return to action on Sunday, Sept. 8 against the Philadelphia Union at Buck Shaw Stadium for Steven Lenhart Chia Pet Night, presented by Cosmopolitan Catering. Kickoff is 8 p.m. PT on ESPN2, 1590 KLIV and 1370 KZSF. Tickets are available by visiting www.sjearthquakes.com or calling 1-800-225-2277. Groups of 10 or more can call the club’s front office at 408-556-7700 to inquire about group rates.

The Earthquakes closed a stretch of three road games in eight days with a 3-0 loss against the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center in front of a sold-out crowd of 27,000. San Jose had its chances early, but it was the Galaxy who found the scoreboard first. Robbie Keane chipped a pass over the Earthquakes’ backline, springing Landon Donovan on the run. Donovan carried the ball into the box and beat goalkeeper Jon Busch one-on-one to give the Galaxy a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute. Keane tacked on the next two Galaxy goals, the first of which came from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute. The Irishman capped the scoring midway through the second half, volleying home a header from Sean Franklin for his 12th goal of the season.

Steven Lenhart scored his second goal of the game in the 93rd minute to give the Earthquakes a dramatic last-minute win, defeating the Philadelphia Union 2-1 at PPL Park. Lenhart scored his first goal of the game in the 76th minute, but Gabriel Gomez equalized with under 10 minutes to go, before the Quakes big forward won it in the dying seconds. Honduran midfielder Marvin Chavez assisted on both goals for San Jose. The win extends the Quakes unbeaten streak to six games and moves them 6-1-1 on the season for 19 points, giving them their best start in club history through eight games. San Jose is now 3-0-1 on the road in 2012, also setting a new mark for the best road start in team history. One week after Simon Dawkins scored in stoppage time to give San Jose a win over Real Salt Lake, Lenhart came through in the clutch for the Quakes with the clock ticking down. Chavez shook free from a double team on the right wing and whipped a cross to the back post, where Lenhart muscled through two defenders to drive a header past Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath for the winning goal just before the final whistle. The Quakes first goal came from the same combination with under 15 minutes to go in the game. Chris Wondolowski found Chavez in the box and he created some space for himself before curling a hard cross into the 6-yard box. Lenhart leapt and pounded the ball past MacMath for a 1-0 lead. Gomez tied the score for the Union in the 83rd after a scramble in the box. A cross from the right wing found Danny Mwanga in the box. He fought off two Quakes defenders to win the ball and he laid it back to Gomez, who fired a low shot past Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch for a short-lived 1-1 tie.

Philadelphia Union Scouting Report

The Philadelphia Union (10-8-9, 39 pts.) enter the week fourth in the Eastern Conference. They are 1-2-2 in their last five games with their last win coming at home against D.C. United on Aug. 10, 2-0. Leading the way offensively are youngster Jack McInerney and veteran Conor Casey with 10 and nine goals, respectively. Meanwhile, Sebastien Le Toux has been the primary supplier of assists with a team-high 12. Amobi Okugo, a regular on the back line for the Union, will miss the match while serving a two-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation and a red card he received in Philadelphia’s 5-1 loss against the New England Revolution on Aug. 25.

History of the Earthquakes – Philadelphia Rivalry

San Jose and Philadelphia have played just four times in their history, with the Union only joining MLS as an expansion franchise ahead of the 2010 season … The Quakes hold a 2-1-1 series edge, and have split a pair of meetings at PPL Park … The Quakes swept the series in 2010 … A goal by Arturo Alvarez at 91+ gave San Jose a come-from-behind 2-1 road win at PPL Park on July 10, before a 1-0 victory courtesy of a 69th-minute Chris Wondolowski strike at Buck Shaw Stadium on Sept. 15 … The Union won the first match-up a year ago, 1-0 at PPL Park on April 30, thanks to a 76th-minute penalty kick by Sebastien Le Toux, now with Vancouver … That match featured Anthony Ampaipitakwong, Justin Morrow and Steven Lenhart in their first starts for San Jose … The return fixture ended in a scoreless stalemate at Buck Shaw on July 9 … In their lone meeting in 2012, Steven Lenhart came off the bench to score twice, including a 93rd-minute game-winner, to lead San Jose to a 2-1 victory at PPL Park on April 28.

Chris Wondolowski has one goal and one assist in five matches … Steven Lenhart has four goals in three appearances … Jon Busch is 3-1-1 with two shutouts.

Philadelphia Union Leaders vs. San Jose

Midfielder Sebastien Le Toux has two goals and one assist in nine games … Defender Chris Albright has four assists in 20 appearances … Goalkeeper Zac MacMath is 0-1-0 in his lone appearance against San Jose.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

Lenhart Chia Pet Night Slated for Sunday, Sept. 8

The Earthquakes will host Steven Lenhart Chia Pet Night, presented by Cosmopolitan Catering, on Sunday, Sept. 8 when the club hosts the Philadelphia Union at 8 p.m. PT. The chia pet will be available to 2,500 fans at the gates on matchday. Last year, Cosmopolitan Catering teamed up with the Earthquakes for Lenhart Wig Night. The stadium was filled with blond-haired fans for what was one of the most dramatic games of the season. Lenhart came off the bench and scored the game-tying goal in the 98th minute. He then celebrated with teammate Shea Salinas by donning the wig.

Milestone Alert

The Earthquakes are two wins away from their 200th in club history … Midfielder Shea Salinas is two assists away from tying Ian Russell for No. 10 on the club’s career list … Forward Chris Wondolowski is one appearance away from tying Troy Dayak for No. 9 on the club’s all-time list with 129.

Iron Man

The Earthquakes have one player that has played every minute of all 27 matches this season, Jon Busch. Sam Cronin is the only other player on the squad to start all 27 matches; he has logged 2,341 minutes in the process.

Lenhart, Gordon Moving Up All-Time Goals List

Steven Lenhart and Alan Gordon haven’t been with the Earthquakes for long, but they’ve both made significant impacts during their brief stints in San Jose. Alan Gordon is No. 8 all-time with 18 goals in 42 games. Meanwhile, Lenhart is tied with Ryan Johnson for No. 9 on the list with 17 goals in 55 games. Jeff Baicher is No. 7 on the list with 20 goals while Chis Wondolowski tops everyone with 72 goals in 128 games.

Ballouchy Has Season-Ending Surgery

Midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy will miss the remainder of the 2013 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior-cruciate ligament in his right knee. Ballouchy’s surgery was performed by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. He played in five games for San Jose in 2013 after missing the first three months of the season while rehabbing from a torn right ACL he suffered in a game against FC Dallas on Sept. 29, 2012.

CONCACAF Champions League Schedule

The Earthquakes will play four CONCACAF Champions League matches in group play after qualifying for the tournament by virtue of their Supporters’ Shield win in 2012. The schedule is as follows:

The Earthquakes have teamed with T-Mobile for the second year in a row to create the “T-Mobile 4G Power Zone” at all home games for the 2013 season. The promotion will give fans the opportunity to purchase great seats for only $17 – a discount of $10 off the day-of-game price, the most affordable Earthquakes tickets available to the public. Through the agreement, T-Mobile has rebranded the Corner Flag Section 107 at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara as the “T-Mobile 4G Power Zone.” For more information, visitwww.sjearthquakes.com/tickets.

Quakes President Dave Kaval’s Office Hours

Earthquakes President Dave Kaval’s office hours will continue in 2013. Fans can drop by his office at 451 El Camino Real, Suite 201 in Santa Clara, Calif., on Tuesdays between 3 and 5 p.m. PT. Participants will be seen on a first come, first served basis. Be sure to read his blog, Kaval’s Kickoff, exclusively atwww.sjearthquakes.com, and follow him on Twitter at @QuakesPrez.

Season Tickets on Sale/Priority for New Stadium

Season tickets for the 2013 season at Buck Shaw Stadium are still available. By purchasing season tickets for the final season at Buck Shaw Stadium, fans can enter the queue for priority seating for the Earthquakes New Stadium. Season ticket holders are currently selecting their seats for the New Stadium. To purchase season tickets or for more information, please contact the Earthquakes headquarters at 408-556-7700.

Wells Fargo Goals for Education

Wells Fargo has again pledged to donate $250 for each goal the Earthquakes score in 2013 through the Goals for Education program. The club has raised $7,000 so far this season thanks to 28 goals. The Earthquakes raised $18,000 in 2012 after scoring a club record 72 goals.